[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H5940-H5941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RIVERSIDE-CORONA FEEDER WATER SUPPLY ACT

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 1139) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
plan, design and construct facilities to provide water for irrigation, 
municipal, domestic, and other uses from the Bunker Hill Groundwater 
Basin, Santa Ana River, California, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1139

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Riverside-Corona Feeder 
     Water Supply Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       For the purposes of this Act, the following definitions 
     apply:
       (1) District.--The term ``District'' means the Western 
     Municipal Water District, Riverside County, California.
       (2) Project.--The term ``Project'' means the Riverside-
     Corona Feeder Project and associated facilities.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 3. PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE RIVERSIDE-
                   CORONA FEEDER.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
     Western Municipal Water District, is authorized to 
     participate in the planning, design, and construction of a 
     water supply project, the Riverside-Corona Feeder, which 
     includes 20 groundwater wells, groundwater treatment 
     facilities, water storage and pumping facilities, and 28 
     miles of pipeline in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, 
     California.
       (b) Agreements and Regulations.--The Secretary may enter 
     into such agreements and promulgate such regulations as are 
     necessary to carry out this section.
       (c) Federal Cost Share.--
       (1) Planning, design, construction.--The Federal share of 
     the cost to plan, design, and construct the project described 
     in subsection (a) shall be not more than 25 percent of the 
     total cost of the project, not to exceed $50,000,000.
       (2) Studies.--The Federal share of the cost to complete the 
     necessary planning studies associated with the project 
     described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 50 percent of 
     the total study cost and shall be included as part of the 
     limitation on funds provided in paragraph (1).
       (d) In-Kind Services.--In-kind services performed by the 
     Western Municipal Water District shall be part of the local 
     cost share to complete the project described in subsection 
     (a).
       (e) Limitation.--Funds provided by the Secretary under this 
     section shall not be used for operation or maintenance of the 
     project described in subsection (a).
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act 
     $50,000,000 or 25 percent of the total cost of the Project, 
     whichever is less.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. 
Cannon) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The purpose of H.R. 1139, as amended, is to authorize the Secretary 
of the Interior to plan, design and construct water facilities for 
municipal, domestic irrigation and other uses in the Bunker Hill 
Groundwater Basin, Santa Ana River in California.
  H.R. 1139, as amended, would authorize limited Federal financial 
assistance for the design and construction of 20 groundwater wells, 
groundwater treatment facilities, water storage and pumping facilities 
and 28 miles of pipeline in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties of 
California.

                              {time}  1450

  The West, now more than ever, must explore and identify new ways of 
providing a reliable water supply to meet the current and future water 
demands of a rapidly growing population. H.R. 1139, as amended, seeks 
to accomplish this by building new pipelines and infrastructure that 
would allow for the storage of conserved water in groundwater basins.
  This project would also serve to provide a critical emergency supply, 
aid in groundwater cleanup, and reduce dependence on the Colorado River 
and the very sensitive Bay-Delta.
  I thank Mr. Calvert for his efforts on this legislation, and I urge 
my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1139, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 1139. H.R. 1139, sponsored by the 
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert), authorizes the 
Secretary of the Interior to assist the Western Municipal Water 
District in the planning, design, and construction of the Riverside-
Corona Feeder. This project includes water storage, pumping facilities, 
and 28 miles of pipeline in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, 
California.

[[Page H5941]]

  This legislation, as amended, is another step toward ``drought 
proofing'' Southern California and also reduces the region's dependence 
on imported water supplies, while providing limited Federal assistance. 
I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Calvert).
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the Riverside-Corona Feeder Water Supply 
Act represents an important investment in the water infrastructure in 
western Riverside County, California, one of the fastest-growing 
regions in this country.
  At a time when water demand continues to grow due to the West's 
increasing population, traditional water sources have been confronted 
by a prolonged drought and other environmental challenges. In fact, 
just last week California water officials turned off the huge pumps 
that send water to Southern California from the Sacramento-San Joaquin 
Delta to protect a tiny imperiled fish. While the shutdown is only 
scheduled to last a week or two, it is a stark reminder that Southern 
California must continue to reduce its dependence on imported water 
from the Delta and the Colorado River.
  The Western Municipal Water District provides water service to 
western Riverside County and serves a population of more than 600,000 
people. The purpose of the Riverside-Corona Feeder water supply project 
is to capture and store water in wet years in order to increase 
Western's firm water supplies, provide a cost-effective water supply, 
and improve water quality.
  New wet year water will come from local runoff, including regulated 
releases from Seven Oaks Dam and the State Water Project and stored in 
San Bernardino groundwater basins. To deliver the stored water to 
consumers in Western's service area, the project will provide for new 
groundwater pumping and pipeline capability. As an additional benefit, 
the Riverside-Corona Feeder will provide the means to control water 
tables, thereby reducing liquefaction dangers in the Colton and San 
Bernardino communities. Additionally, the project improves local water 
quality as perchlorate and other contaminants would be removed from the 
basin when water is extracted from the well heads via the Riverside-
Corona Feeder.
  I applaud Western and our local elected officials in Western 
Riverside County for taking bold, proactive steps in meeting our 
region's current and future water demand. In particular, I would like 
to acknowledge the leadership of Western's General Manager, John Rossi, 
as well as the Western board members, Charles Field, Tom Evans, Brenda 
Dennstedt, Don Galleano, and Al Lopez. I also want to thank my good 
friend Grace Napolitano, the chairwoman of the Water and Power 
Subcommittee, for her leadership and support of my legislation.
  I think it is crucial that we recognize and assist communities that 
are working to reduce their reliance on imported water, and I urge all 
of my colleagues to support the Riverside-Corona Feeder Water Supply 
Act.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1139, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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